Listen to this articleZoom is a comprehensive communication and collaboration platform that has evolved into Zoom Workplace, an AI powered workspace for hybrid teams. It is widely known for video and audio conferencing but also offers integrated tools for team chat, email, calendar, and document collaboration.
Zoom’s AI and Collaboration Features
Zoom recently shifted from being just a meeting tool to an “AI first” platform.
Zoom AI Companion: This is a built-in AI assistant included at no extra cost with most paid plans. Its primary goal is to handle repetitive tasks so you can focus on the conversation.
- Meeting Summaries: Automatically generates key discussion points and action items after a meeting ends, which can be sent via email or shared in team chat.
- In-Meeting Questions: Allows you to ask the AI questions during a live meeting (e.g., “Was my name mentioned?” or “Catch me up”) without interrupting the flow.
- Smart Recording: Automatically organizes cloud recordings into chapters and highlights for faster review.
Workplace Collaboration Features:
- Zoom Docs: An AI first collaborative workspace for creating documents, wikis, and project trackers directly within the Zoom app.
- Continuous Meeting Chat: A persistent chat channel that stays active before, during, and after a meeting, keeping all shared files and resources in one place.
- Shared Spaces: Allows you to group relevant chat channels together for better team organization.
How to use Zoom?
Step 1. Setting Up Your Account
- Sign Up: Visit the Zoom sign-up page and enter your email address to create a free Basic account.
- Download the App: Download the Zoom Workplace app from the Zoom Download Center for your computer or mobile device.
- Join a Test Meeting: Visit zoom.us/test to check your camera and microphone before your first real call.
Step 2. Using Basic Meeting Controls
- Mute/Unmute: Click the Microphone icon in the bottom left corner to control your audio.
- Start/Stop Video: Click the Camera icon next to the microphone to turn your webcam on or off.
- Share Screen: Click the green Share Screen button in the center of the bottom toolbar to show your desktop or a specific app to others.
- Chat: Click the Chat icon to send messages to all participants or individuals privately.
Step 3. How to Use AI Meeting Summaries
To use AI features, the meeting host must have a paid Zoom Workplace plan (e.g., Pro, Business, or Enterprise).
Enable the Feature (Web Portal):
- Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
- Click Settings in the left menu, then select the AI Companion
- Toggle on Meeting Summary with AI Companion.
Start Summary in a Meeting:
- Once the meeting starts, click the AI Companion (diamond) icon on the toolbar.
- Select Start Summary.
Access the Summary:
- After the meeting, Zoom will send an email with the summary to the host.
- You can also find them in the Hub or Summaries tab of the Zoom web portal.
Step 4. Workplace Collaboration Steps
- Create a Doc: In the Zoom app, click the Docs tab (look under “More” if you don’t see it) and click the + icon to start a new collaborative document.
- Continuous Chat: When scheduling a meeting, ensure Continuous Meeting Chat is enabled in the meeting options to keep the conversation going after the call ends.
Zoom has transformed from a simple video tool into a sophisticated hub where AI driven insights and integrated document sharing streamline the entire project lifecycle. This transition allows teams to spend less time on administrative upkeep and more on the creative collaboration that drives results.
